Improvement in hay-elevators



L. B. SPROUT.

Hay-Elevators.

No.153,916 Patented Aug.11,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT LEWIS B. SPROUT, OF MUNOY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IM PROVEMENT IN HAY-ELEVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,916, dated August11,1874; application filed February 4, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIs B. SPRoUr, ofMuncy, Lycomin g county, Pennsylvania, have invented a Hay Elevator andCarrier, of which the following is a specification:

Figure l of the drawing represents a longitudinal vertical section of myimproved elevator. Fig. 2 represents a vertical cross-section of thesame.

The nature of my invention relates to a new hay elevator and carrier, soconstructed as to lift the hay from the load, and, after elevating it tothe proper height, carry it to a point over the stack, and retain it inposition upon the fork until unloaded, after which. the fork may bereturned to its position over the load,

and automatically dropped upon the same, as will be hereinafter fullyset forth.

My invention consists in a traveling car, running on. a beam suspendedwith one end over the load of hay, and the other over the stack, thesaid car carrying the fork attached to a block and pulley suspended by arope or chain, one end of which is securely fastened to the car, and theother passing over a pulley attached to the same, the car being providedwith two levers, as will be described, one of which is designed tofasten the car to the beam while loading and elevating the hay, and torelease the same automatically when the hay is properly elevated, andallow the car to travel to its place over the stack; the other to catchand hold the rope when the car is in position over the stack, andprevent the fork from falling until unloaded, as will be fullyhereinafter described.

I represents a beam suspended over the load and stack, having a track,H, attached to its lower edge, consisting of two longitudinal stripsattached to the sides of the beam, as shown. K represents the car,secured to the lower edge of a yoke or frame, T, which embraces thetrack H upon the beam I, and slides thereon. The car K is provided withmortises M N, in which are pivoted levers R P. The end of the lever B isprovided with a catch, D, which engages a lug, D, when the car is inposition over the load. The lower end q of said lever falls below thecar, as shown, for the purpose to be hereinafter specified. The upperend of the lever P projects through the car so as to engage against alug, E, when the car is in position over the load, the lower end gfalling below the car, as shown, for the purpose to be hereinafterdescribed. The rope A is attached securely at O to the carriage or car,and carries a block and pulley, with a hook or bail, to which thehay-fork may be secured. The other end passes over a pulley, V, into thehands of the operator. F is a ring secured to the rope A. the object ofwhich will be hereinafter de scribed.

-The operation of my apparatus is as: follows: The carriage being inproper position over the load, as shown in Fig. 1, a charge of hay issecured in the fork by the operator, and

is elevated by drawing upon the end of the rope A passing over thepulley V. When. suffioiently elevated, the pulleyW lifts the lower endof the lever B, releasing the other-end from the lug D, when the carwill travel to the other end of the beam I. This will release the upperend of the lever P, and allow the lower end to catch and hold the rope Aby means of the ring F, thus keeping the fork suspended until unloaded.The car may be then drawn to the forward end of the beam I by theoperator, when the catch on lever B will fall over the lug D, and againfasten the carriage in position, and the upper end of the lever P comingin contact with the lug E "will release the ring F from the lowerendyakllowing the block W to fall by its own weight, or to be drawn downby the operator to the proper position for again charging the fork.

I am aware that patents have been granted to George Smith, June 20,1871, and G. M. Robinson, February 4, 1868, for an invention resemblingmy own in some respects. I do not, therefore, claim what is containedthereinbut What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

The catch. P, adjustable metal ring F, pin a, rope A, pulley V, catch R,and stationary blocks D and E, all combined to operate substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

LEWIS B. SPROUT.

Witnesses:

A. B. PUTNAM, W. B. GREEN.

